The knee, one of the more complicated weight-bearing joints, is particularly prone to damage and degeneration in the form of osteoarthritis. If you’re one of the millions of people who experience excruciating pain as a result of an orthopedic injury or a degenerative disease like arthritis, it’s likely that you’ve had to miss work, restrict your participation in physical activity and sports, or struggle with even basic movement and mobility on the side of the affected joint. You may qualify for a minimally invasive knee arthroscopy if you have one of these conditions.
What is Knee Arthroscopy?
The surgical procedure known as knee arthroscopy can be used to identify and address knee joint issues. In order to do the treatment, your doctor will make a very small incision in your knee and introduce an arthroscope, a tiny camera. This enables them to see an image of the joint’s interior on a screen. The surgeon can then examine a knee issue and, if required, resolve it using tiny devices inside the arthroscope.
Several knee conditions, such a torn meniscus or a displaced patella, are diagnosed through arthroscopy (kneecap). The ligaments of the joint can also be repaired by it. The surgery carries only little risks, and most patients have positive prognosis. Your prognosis and recovery period will depend on how bad your knee condition is and how difficult the surgery will be.
Important structures in your knee
The largest and most complicated joint in your body is the knee. The lower end of the femur (thighbone), the upper end of the tibia (shinbone), and the patella make up the knee (kneecap).
Structures that make up the knee joint include:
Articular cartilage
Articular cartilage covers the back of the patella, the femur and tibia’s ends, and the patella itself. As you bend or straighten your leg, this slick substance aids in a smooth contact between your knee bones.
Synovium
A synovium-named thin lining covers the knee joint. The fluid that is released from this lining lubricates the cartilage and lessens friction while moving.
Meniscus
Between the femur and the tibia, two wedge-shaped sections of meniscal cartilage serve as shock absorbers. The meniscus, which differs from articular cartilage in that it is tough and springy, aids in stabilizing and cushioning the joint.
Ligaments
Ligaments join one bone to another bone. Your knee’s four primary ligaments function as sturdy ropes to hold the bones together and maintain knee stability.
- Your knee has two collateral ligaments, one on each side.
- You’ll find the two cruciate ligaments inside your knee joint. The anterior cruciate ligament is in front and the posterior cruciate ligament is in the back, forming an X.
Causes of chronic pain and stiffness in the knee joint
As a person ages, or as the result of an injury, the cartilage that cushions and lubricates the bones in the knee joint starts to degenerate and wear out. This causes friction between the bones, which can cause excruciating pain, swelling, and difficulties moving and mobility in the affected joint.
When should you go for a knee arthroscopy?
If you suffer from a painful condition that does not improve with nonsurgical treatment, your doctor might advise knee arthroscopy. Rest, physical therapy, and drugs or injections that can reduce inflammation are all nonsurgical treatments.
The painful symptoms of numerous conditions that harm the cartilage surfaces and other soft tissues surrounding the joint may be alleviated through knee arthroscopy.
The following knee arthroscopic procedures are typical:
- Repair of a damaged meniscus, meniscus transplantation, or partial meniscectomy (meniscus removal).
- Repairing an anterior or posterior cruciate ligament that has been torn.
- Synovial tissue that is inflammatory is removed.
- Trimming or replacement of articular cartilage that has been damaged.
- Removing any loose bone or cartilage pieces, such as those brought on by synovial chondromatosis.
- Problems with the patella (kneecap) are treated.
- Medications for knee sepsis (infection).
How can you prepare for Knee Arthroscopy?
You will receive preparation instructions from your doctor or surgeon. Tell them about any prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, or dietary supplements you’re using right away. Before the surgery, you might need to stop taking some medications, like aspirin or ibuprofen, for a few days or weeks.
Additionally, you must go without food or liquids for six to twelve hours prior to the procedure. In some circumstances, your doctor could advise you to take a painkiller to ease any discomfort you feel following the operation. In order to have this prescription ready for you after the treatment, you should fill it in advance.
How does a Knee Arthroscopy take place?
Your knee will first receive a few minor cuts or incisions from the surgeon. Saline, or sterile salt water, will next be pumped in to enlarge your knee. This facilitates the surgeon’s ability to view within the joint. The surgeon inserts the arthroscope via one of the wounds and uses the attached camera to view the inside of your joint. The photos captured by the camera are shown on the operating room monitor for the surgeon to observe.
Once the surgeon has identified the issue with your knee, they could use tiny instruments to fix it by inserting them into the incisions. After the procedure, the doctor sutures your wounds closed and drains the saline solution from your joint.
Risk involved in Knee Arthroscopy
Any sort of surgery carries some hazards, though they are uncommon. Every surgery has the following risks:
- Excessive bleeding during the procedure
- Infection at the site of the surgery
- Breathing difficulties caused by anesthesia
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia or other medications administered during surgery
A knee arthroscopy has additional risks, such as:
- Bleeding inside the knee joint
- Formation of a blood clot in the leg
- Infection inside the joint
- Stiffness in the knee
- Injury or damage to the cartilage, ligaments, meniscus, blood vessels, or nerves of the knee
Anesthetic
Depending on the procedure being performed, a certain type of anesthesia will be administered. There are numerous varieties of anesthesia, from local to general, and the hazards of anesthesia change depending on the type chosen.
Infections
The majority of surgical operations, particularly invasive ones, call for adequate post-operative care. This is done to prevent any kind of infection from growing inside the body. The majority of these infections are simple to treat, while some may necessitate additional procedures. In surgery involving hip or joint replacements, the risk of infection is increased.
Blood clot
After surgery, a blood clot can develop anywhere in a vein. The clot is comparatively risk-free if it is in the veins. However, if it enters the lungs, it can seriously impair breathing and necessitate immediate medical attention. Blood thinners and other medications are used by doctors to reduce the danger of blood clots in the body.
Recovery after Knee Arthroscopy
This surgery isn’t very invasive. Depending on the process, the average patient’s operation lasts less than an hour. Most likely, you’ll return home that day to rest. On your knee, apply an ice pack and a dressing. The ice will lessen your pain and help with swelling reduction.
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Conclusion
Knee Arthroscopy needs orthopedic implants which ensure a shorter recovery time, less pain, and reduced risk of complications, and Zealmax Ortho is a reliable solution for it. We are dedicated to the innovation, design, and development of novel, clinically relevant, and state-of-the-art implants which give lives a new chance to stand strong.
